Winding machine



Feb. 13, 1934. E. R. swANsoN ET AL 1,946,506

v I WINDING MACHINE Original Filed Dec. 16. 1 929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb.13, 1934.

y 7247 Ti 2/; 7 V 59' J fi H a K i E. R. SWANSON ET AL WINDING MACHINEOriginal Filed Dec. 16, 1929 Patented, Feb. 13, 1934 wmnma MACHINEErnest R. Swanson and William Marcroft,

Cranston, R. 1., assignors to Universal Wind- C mpany, Boston,Massachusetts Mass., a corporation of Application December 16, 1929,Serial No. 414,527 Renewed June 23, 1933 9 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in winding machines for windingcops, cones'and packages of thread-yarn, cord and other strand material,hereinafter referred to generally by the term yarn, and particularly towinding machines wherein the package is rotated by contact with adrive-roll or drum. Specifically, the invention consists in aribbon-breaker, so-called, which op erates to control the disposition ofthe turns of 10 winding on the surface of the package to prevent theformation of bands or ribbons in which the yarn coils are crowdedtogether or piled. I

One object of the invention is to provide a simplified mechanismincorporated in the winding machine and operating to disrupt thesynchrony between the rotating package and the traverse-means whichdeposits the coils of winding in place thereon. I

Another object of the invention is to provide :0 a mechanism of the typespecified for periodically accelerating and decelerating the rate ofmovement of one or another of the cooperating winding elements, eitherthe package-rotating means or the yarn-traversing means, at recur.- ringcycles throughout the winding.

Another object of the invention is to provide automatically operatedmeans in the drivingmechanism for rotating one element of the drivinggears first in one direction and then in the opposite direction toeffect an acceleration and deceleration in the speed of the drivenelement.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism of the typespecified whichis completely automatic in its operation and whichrequires no adjustment or setting. 7 1

Further objects of the improvement are set forth in the following specfication which describes a preferred form of construction of theinvention, by way of example, as illustrated by -10 the accompanyingdrawings. In the drawings: Fig. l is a front elevation of a portion of awinding frame or gang winder showing the essential elements of thewinding mechanism of one unit in connection with its driving means 43which embodies the present improved ribbonv0 Fig. 4 is a view of thedifferential gearing of the ribbon-breaker showing its housing insection;

Fig. 5 is an end view of the train of gearing which drives thecrank-motion; and v Fig. 6 is a detailed view of certain ofthe gears soof said train.

The present invention relates particularly to means for imparting analternately accelerated and retarded rate of speed to one of thecooperative' winding elements of the machine, either the means forrotating the package or the means which traverses the yarn thereon, andin general consists in difierential gearing'incorporated in thedriving-mechanism of the machine and operative to cause one of the gearsin a train to be positively rotated first in one direction and then inthe opposite direction to effect an acceleration and deceleration in thespeed of the driven gear.

Referring to the-drawings, the winding ma- ?5 chine herein illustratedby way of example is of the double gang type having a plurality of winding units arranged in series along the sides of a horizontal frame orbed 2. The bed 2 is supported at its ends by suitable legs 3 and at oneso end is an electric motor 5 mounted on a base 6 which is adjustablewith respect to the bed. Spaced along the top of the bed 2 are a seriesof brackets or standards 7 which embody bearings for the driving-shaftand other parts of the g5 winding mechanism, two opposite units beinglocated between each pair of brackets but only one unit being hereinshown.

In the construction of the machine as shown in Figs. -1 and 2 thewinding mechanism comprises only two principal elements, namely, thewinding-mandrel or spindle 15 on which the yarn-receiver or cop-tube Crotates and the driveroll 10 for rotating the yarn-receiver, and inwhich is embodied the means for traversing the yarn back and forthaxially of the package being wound. In this construction the usualreciprocating thread-guide is'dispensed with and the drive-roll has itsperipheral surface provided with connected helical grooves 8 and 9extending in 10g opposite directions and adapted to receive the strandof yarnto guide it back and forth between the ends of the package. Thisform of traversingmeans for the yarn is fully shown and described in anapplication for United States Letters Patent Serial No. 342,544, filedFebruary 25, 1929, now Patent No. 1,749,355, issued March 4, 1930.

It is to be understood however that the present ribbon-breaker orspeed-changing device is adapted. tor use on winding machines-oi otherno types, such as those wherein the package is driven by contact with adrive-roll and the yarn traversed by means of a reciprocating guide, or

with any. other construction of drum-driven winders. Y

In the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the drive-roll 10 is carriedon and rotated by a horizontal shaft 11 journaled in ball-bearings 12which are mounted on the brackets '7; it being noted that the shaft 11is extended throughout the whole length of the machine and adapted tosupport the drive-rolls for any desired number of winding units. Thepresent machine is shown as adapted for winding packages of conical formin which the yarn body'is built up on any suitable support or receiver,a wooden or fiber cone C being illustrated in Fig. 1 as mounted torotate on the winding-spindle or mandrel 15. As shown most clearly inFig. 2, the winding-spindle 15 is pivotally mounted on the forked end ofan arm 16 which is hinged on a rod or stud 17 held in a bearing 18projecting from the top of the bracket 7, this construction being commonto machines of the present type. The arm 16 is usually weighted to causethe surface of the wooden cone or yam-receiver C to be held firmly incontact with the periphery of .the drive-roll 10, and asthe yarn isbuilt up on the receiver it forces the latter upwardly with the arm 16pivoting on its stud 1'7.

The drivi mechanism for the whole series of winding units is connectedto drive the shaft 11 through differential gearing arranged as nextdescribed. Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 4 of the drawings,asherein shown the armatureshaft 20 of the motor 5 is connected directlyto a hollow spindle or sleeve 21 which carries a casing or housing 25containing the differential gearing. As shown in Fig. 4, the end of thearmature-shaft 20 is received within the axial bore of the spindle orsleeve 21 and keyed thereto at 22. The spindle 21 is journaled in aball-bearing 23 supported from an upright or standard 24formedasapartofthemainbed2. Thegearhousing or 25 has a hub 26 at one endwhich fits over the end of the spindle or sleeve 21 and is secured fasttherewith by means of a set-screw 27. On the opposite sides of thehousing 25'are hubs 28 bored to receive two axiallyalining studs 29which the journals for certain of the differential gears to be laterdescribed. Preferably, the casing 25 has an'opening on one side'which isclomd by a-suitable cover 36 attached theretoby screws'31as showninFig.5. V e r Thestuds29areheldmthehubs28bymeans of w32,theirinnerendsbeing.reduced in diam to receive sleeves 33 whiclraresecuredflxedlythereonbyset-screws34. 'nieendsofthesleeves33areformedwlthraces35forballs36whichrimmoppositeraces37inserted.intheboresofapairofbevel-gea.rs38. The

bevel-gears38 mesh-withathird bevel-gear 39 v having its hubs-z keyedfast-to the end (if the drive-roll shaft 11' at 13 and ma longitudinallythereofbyaset-screw 14. lhedrlve-mllshaft 11 projectsbeyond'its'barhig-li axially through them-houshmlS-mditsmdisby aball-bearing 40 aeomterbore 41 attheendofthe spindle orsleeve 21; Acollar 42secmedtotheshaft11byaset-aerew43isemployedtospace-the'bearim-raceufromthe' endofthehubflofthefi.Itwillthus beseenthatthedrlve-rollshaftuisarranged m t with theammo-shaft 30,

. described.

but is rotatable independently thereof to provide for a differentialspeed-ratio between these two parts.

The two intermediate gears 38 mesh with a fourth relatively fixed gear45 which is supported free to turn on the drive-roll shaft 11. The gear45 has an extended hub 46 projecting through a ball-bearing 47'at theend of the gear-housing 25. The ball-bearing 47 is-of the sameconstruction as those previously referred to, having its inner race 48fast on the hub 46 and the outer race 49 held in the bore of the housing25 with balls 50 revoluble therebetween. The gear 45 is held.longitudinally of the shaft 11 by means of thrustcollars 51 aiid 52 ateither end of its hub 46, the collars being secured fast to the shaft bysetscrews 53 and 54. Abutting the collar 51 is the inner race 55 of theball-bearing 12 held fast with the shaft 11 by a set-screw 56.

It is to be observed that through the abovedescribed arrangement thearmature-shaft 20 is connected to revolve the gear-housing 25 to causerthe intermediate bevel-gears 38 to travel around the relatively fixedgear 45 and thereby impart rotary motion to the driven gear 39 which isfast on the shaft 11. With the gear 45 held fast the Vmotion'transmitted from the shaft 20 to the shaft oscillated to-and-froto vary the driving action of the gears 38. The gear 45 is turned backand forth about the shaft 11 through one-half a revolution by means of acrank-motion as next Extending horizontally along the side of the bed 2is a crank-shaft journaled in bearings 61, 62, .63 nd 64. The bearings61 and 62 are formed as extensions depending from the brackets '7, whilethe bearing 63 is constructed as a part of; or attached to'the bed 2,and the endbearing. 64 is formed in a rib on the side of the bed. Thecrank 65 is preferably made separate from the two-part shaft 60 with itscrank-arms 66 secured thereto by means of set-screws 67. Aconnecting-rod 70' has a' split-bearing '71 at one end joumaled on thecrank-pin 68, see. Fig. 2, and reaches upwardly with its curved endformed with a hub '72 which is connected to a pin 73 held in oppositecars '14 projecting mm the side of a collar 75. Referring to Fig. 4, thecollar "75 surrounds the end of the hub 46 of the gear 45 which projectsbeyond the end-hubof the gearhousing 25, being secured fast thereto bymeans of a setescrew '26. It will be observed by reference to Figs. 2and 5 that as the crank-shaft 60 is rotated the connecting-rod '10 willbe give: a reciprocatory motion to oscillate the collar 75 and therebyturn the gear 45 throughout a half revolution and back again. Thecrank-shaft 60 is driven from the motor 5 through the meansof. atrainof"gearingasnextdescrihed.

AsshowninFigs. 1and4,theendotthespinpie or sleeve 21 which surroimds theend of the armature-shaft 20 is formed as a gear-pinion I1.

1 having teeth went into its periphery. The pinion't'lmesheswithagearwwhichiskeyedat 81 to a-stud-shaft 82, seem. 6. Thestud-shaft 82 is'journaled in ball-bearings 83 of sameconstructionaspreviouslydescrihedandhel in bores intheoppositeuprithtsor ribs 24 and-85 onthesideofthebedlseel'il. Formedintegralwiththe stud-shaft 82 k opinion 86 arranged to mesh with a gear}? whichis fast to the end of the crank-shaft at 88 and secured longitudinallythereof by means of a set-screw 89. It will thus be seen that thearmature-shaft 20 drives the train of gearing last described to rotatethe crank-shaft 60 at a greatly reduced rate of speed, and through themeans of the crank the bevel-gear 45 is given an intermittent to-and-frorotation on'the drive-roll shaft 11.. The speed of rotation of the shaft11 is thus periodically accelerated and decelerated,

through the differential gearing in the casing 25, the method of.operation of the complete machine and the functioning of theribbon-breaker being as next explained.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the machine as herein shownis prepared for winding by mounting a wooden or fiber cone-tube oryarn-receiver C to rotate on the spindle 15. In applying theyarn-receiver C the arm 16 is raised .and the spindle 15 swung outwardlyon its swiveled joint at the end of the arm in accordance with the wellknown practice with winding machines of the present type. After theyam-receiver C is in place the spindle 15 is swung back into parallelrelation with respect to the axis of the drive-roll 10 and the arm 16 isthen lowered to bring the surface of the receiver C into driving contactwith the periphery of the roll. The strand of yarn y or other materialis led up from a source of supply and through a tension-device, notherein illustrated, thence drawn across the periphery of the drive-roll10 and its end fastened to the yam-receiver C, for example, by windingit several times around the grooved base thereof. In machines of thepresent type the drive-roll is usually rotated continuously and thestarting and stopping of the winding is controlled by moving theyarn-receiver C respectively toward or away from the roll. Means areusually provided for automatically lifting the package away from thedrive-roll to arrest the winding operation, but such means are notherein shown and described as they do not relate to the presentinvention.

As the yarn-receiver C is brought into surface contact with theperiphery of the drive-roll 10 it will be rotated from the roll to'windon the yarn. The roll 10 turns in the direction indicated by the arrowin Fig. 2 and as the yarn is taken up by the rotation of the receiver Cthe strand y will be picked up in one or the other of the crossinghelical grooves 8 and 9 on the periphery of the roll. As the yarn feedsthrough the grooves it is traversed thereby back and forthlongitudinally of the axis of the receiver C to deposit it thereon inhelical coils which make several turns first in one direction and thenin the opposite direction as indicated in Fig. l. -Means are provided atthe crossing points of the oppositely extending grooves 8 and 9 toprevent the strand from being diverted from one groove into the other,in accordance with the construction described in the patent applicationhereinbefore referred to, and in this-way the yarn is given a continuoustraverse from one end of the receiver to the other and back again tobuild up a succession of coursesforming overlying layers whichconstitute the yarn body or package.

At the start of the windingthe speed of the yarn-receiver C isapproximately the same as that of the drive-roll 10 and the yarn will belaid from end to end of the receiver with a number of coils equal to thenumber of turns in the grooves 8 and 9 extending from one end of theroll 10 to the other end. As the yarn builds up on the receiver C thelatter recedes from the drive-roll 10 and with the increase in diameterof the package its angular velocity or speed of rotation is graduallylessened due to the increasing disparity between its diameter and thatof the drive-roll. In other words, there is a constant change in ratiobetween the speed of rotation of the package and that of the drive-rolland, consequently, there will be a corresponding variation in the numberof turns laid on the surface of the package, or in the wind as it iscalled. For example, if the winding is started with four winds", or fourturns on the surface of the yarn-receiver C as shown in Fig. l, as thepackage increases in size and its speed of rotation is retarded thenumher of winds will be gradually'lessened with the causes what istermed a ribbon wind on the surface of the package. In a package ofconsiderable size there may be a large number of these ribbons and atsuch points the winding is defective. That is to say, where the coils ofwinding are crowded and piled the yarn is stretched and strained and theturns will' not hold in place as well as when spaced apart: When severalcoils are laid over each other in the ribbon they tend to slip and slideout of place and roll on the surface of the package. disturbs the twistof the yarnand-tends to weaken it so that its quality is impaired and,as another serious defect, the ribbon prevents the yarn from deliveringfreely when it is drawn off over the end of the package.

It has been stated that one object of the present invention is to curethis defect in drum-wound packages by eliminating the ribbon wind andthe means for accomplishing this purpose consists in theautomatically-operated differential driving-gear for the roll 10 whichtraverses the yarn on the package. The armature-shaft 20 rotates at aconstant rate of speed and through the train of gearing 77. 80, 86 and87 drives the crank-shaft 60 at a constant but greatly reduced rate. Theshaft 20 is connected to rotate the sleeve or spindle 21 and thereby thegear-housing 25 carried fast on its end. As the gear-housing 25 isrotated the intermediate gears 38 are carried bodily around the axis ofthe drive-roll shaft 11 with a planetary motion and through theengagement of their teeth with the relatively fixed gear 45 the gears 33are rotated on their own axes to cause them to drive the gear 39. Thegear 39 is fast on the drive-roll shaft 11 and is therefore caused toturn this shaft to rotate the roll 10, and as the four gears in thedifferential train are equal in size the speed of the shaft 11 undernormal conditions is the same as that of the armature-shaft 20.

This

ward motion about its axis throughout one-half of a complete revolution.The effect of this oscillation or to-and-fro movement of the gear 45 isto cause the rotation of the driven gear 39 to be accelerated orretarded in accordance with the direction of movement of the gear'45.That is to say, as the crank 65 turns downwardly from top center and thegear 45 is turned in rotative eifect on the-gear 39.

the same direction as the shaft 11 the intermediate gears 38 will have aproportionately less On the other hand, as the crank rises from bottomcenter and the connecting-rod turns the gear 45 back in the oppositedirection a faster rate of speed will be imparted to the gears 38 asthey travel around the gear 45 and consequently the speed of the gear39, and thereby the velocity of the shaft 11 and roll 10, will beaccelerated.

Now it would appear that since the yarn-receiver C and the package woundthereon are rotated directly from the roll 10 the peripheral speed ofrotation of the package would be the same as that of the roll and anyacceleration or deceleration of the latter would be imparted to thepackage. This is not the case however because the package is driven byfrictional contact of the drive-roll with its surface and there isnecessarily some sl ppage at this point when the speed of thedrive-roll'is altered. The yam-receiver C and the yarn wound thereon areof considerable mass and the weight thereof increases with the growth inthe Furthermore, the package is rotated at a high rate of speed, and theforce of momentum is therefore very considerable. Hence, when the speedof the driveroll 10 is retarded the package will tend to continueitsrotation at the maximum and in practice it has been determined thatdue to the slippage between the surface of .the package and theperiphery of the drive-roll the slowing up of the roll has little or noeffect to change the speed of the package. Likewise, when the speed ofthe roll is accelerated for a brief period it will fail to have anymaterial effect in increasing the speed of the package due to the forceof inertia,

' slippage taking place between the periphery of fected andin this waythe synchronization of the traverse with the rotation of the package isdisrupted. The effect of this disruption in the synchronous movementbetween the two cooperative elements-of the winding mechanism, that is,the

, rotating package and the traversing-means for the yarn, has the resultto prevent the crowding andpilingoftheturnsorcoilsofwindin8to thuseliminate the "ribbon wind usually present in drum-wound packages.

Fig. 3 of the drawings illustrates form of winding mechanism having thedrive-roll constructed as a separate element from the traverse-roll. Inthis embodiment of the invention the drive-roll is mounted on androtated by its own shaft 91 "which is driven at aconstant -rate f eitherby connecting it directly with motor or gearing the armatureof' theelectric traverse the yarn i means for driving the traverse-roll at sucha package. is rotated at constant peripheral speed due to it thereto.The traverse-roll 100 is-mounted on an independent shaft 101 extendingparallel with and located infront of the drive-roll shaft 91.

The cop-tube or yam-receiver C is carried at the end of an arm 102pivoted at 103, being so supported as to adapt it to contact with theperiphery of the drive-roll 90, but to be free from contact with thetraverse-roll 100. The periphery of the traverse-roll 100, however,isadiacent to the surface on which the winding is performed in whateverposition -the yarn-receiver C may assume so that the yarn y is fedthrough the grooves of the traverse-roll 100 directly'to the package insuch manner as to deposit'the coils precisely in place thereon asdescribed in connection with Fig. 1 of the drawings.

In the modified form of construction shown in Fig. 3, the traverse-milshaft 101 corresponds to the shaft 11 referred to in connection withother views of the drawings, and the differential gearing is carried onthis shaft and arranged in exactly the same manner as shown in'Fig. 4and previously described. The winding mechanism in this last describedembodiment of the invention will therefore operate to cause theyarnreceiver C. to be rotated from the drive-roll 90 at a constantlydecreasing rate of speed while the yarn y is traversed longitudinally ofthe receiver by the separate traverse-roll which has .a; periodicallyaccelerated and decelerated rate of movement under the actiomofthediflerential'mechanism previously explained. The resuit .will be thesame, that is,.a disruption of the synchronization between the rotationof the package and the traversing movement of the yarn with respectthereto so that the piling and crowding of the coils is avoided andribbon windin'g eliminated.

It will be observed from the foregoing :that the present inventionprovides particularly simple and eiiicient means for periodicallyvarying the element constitutspeed of any certain rotat e windingmachine ing a part of the drive for whereby to efl'ect a disruption inthe synchronization between two cooperating parts of the windingmechanism. The improved differential mechanism may be embodied directlyin the drive of the machine and comprises a minimum num; ber of elementscompacted within a relatively small space. The rapidly rotating gears ofthe device are entirely enclosed to provide for their lubrication and toprevent injury to the operator of the machine, and the mechanism is freefromcomplication and. not liable to become deranged or to' get out oforder.

While the invention scribed as embodied in a preferred form of.con-'struction and adapted for use with a certain style of winding'machine,it is to be understood that various modifications may be made in theform and arrangement of the parts of the device and its method ofapplication which will fall within the scope and spirit of the appendedclaims.v

- is herein shown and-de- Therefore, withoutlimiting ourselves in thisrespect, we claim:

1. In a winding machine. thecombination of means. for rotatablysupporting a yam-package, a grooved traverse-roll for rotating thepackage by. surface contact' I ongitudinally thereof, and

between the surface of the package therewith .while acting .to

whereby a periodic change in ratio between the speed of the package andthe traverse of the yarn axially thereof is obtained to prevent ribbonwinding.

2. In a winding machine, the combination of means for rotatablysupporting the package being wound, a traverse-roll for rotating thepackage by surface contact therewith, said roll embodying means fortraversing the yarn from end to end of the package, means for rotatingthe traverse-roll, and means for varying the speed of the traverse-rollwith a rapid intermittent acceleration and deceleration to causeslippage between the roll and the package whereby the latter continuesto rotate at substantially constant speed and the ratio between thespeed of the package and the traverse of the yarn is periodicallyaltered to prevent ribbon winding.

3. In a winding machine, the combination of means for rotatablysupporting the package being wound, a traverse-roll for rotating'thepackage by surface contact therewith and provided with means on itsperiphery for traversing the yarn from end to end of the package, meansfor rotating the traverse-roll, and means for periodically acceleratingand decelerating the'speed of the traverse-roll to cause slippagebetween the roll and the surface of the package whereby the lattercontinues to rotate at substantially constant speed and the rate oftraverse of the yarn is periodically altered in ratio with the speed ofrotation of the package.

4. In a winding machine, the combination of means for rotatablysupporting the package being wound, a traverse-roll having surfacecontact with the package to drive the latter and prorate of traverse ofthe yarn is periodically altered to disrupt the synchronism between therotation of the package and the traverse of the yarn to prevent ribbonwinding.

5. In a winding machine, the'combination of a traverse-roll havinghelical grooves on its periphery for receiving a strand of yarn or thelike to guide it back and forth axially thereof, means for rotatablysupporting a package in surface contact with the traverse-roll, meansfor driving the traverse-roll to cause it torotate the package whiletraversing the yarn from end to end thereof, and means for periodicallyaccelerating and decelerating the speed of the traverseroll to cause thepackage to slip on the roll while rotating at a substantially constantspeed as the rate of traverse of the yarn is altered to disrupt thesynchronism to prevent ribbon winding on the surface of the package.

6. In a winding machine, in combination, means for rotatably supportinga yarn package, a grooved traverse roll arranged to rotate the packageby contact with the periphery thereof while acting to traverse the yarnlongitudinally thereof, means to rotate the traverse roll, and meansproducing intermittent slippage between the traverse roll and packageperiphery to change the ratio of package peripheral speed to axial yarntraverse to prevent ribbon winding.

'7. In a winding machine, in combination, means for rotatably supportinga yarn package, a grooved traverse roll arranged to rotate the packageby contact with the periphery thereof while acting to traverse the yarnlongitudinally thereof, means to rotate the traverse roll, and meansproducing recurrent fluctuation between the peripheral speeds of the tworotating parts'to produce changes in ratio between the speed of thepackage and the traverse of the yarn to prevent ribbon Winding. I

8. In a winding machine, the combination of means for rotatablysupporting a yarn package, means to rotate the package by peripheralcontact therewith, means for traversing yarn on the package, and meansfor periodically disruptingdrive means to thereby change the ratio ofpackage peripheral speed to yarn traverse thereon. ERNEST R. SWANSON.WILLIAM MARCROFT.

